Press Releases

CHICAGO, IL (April 25, 2017)–Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC announced the promotion of five of its employees to Partner status. The new Partners will also take on the role of Managing Director within their respective groups.

“We are privileged to have incredibly talented individuals within our firm. We strive to perform, and these members do so with exceptional results for our clients. We are fortunate enough to have them in integral roles and are excited to have them as partners,” said Rich Berg, CEO and co-founder of Performance Trust.

Three of the new Partners have been with the firm for over 10 years. Beyond co-managing teams, Roth, DePalo, and Hixson have demonstrated their commitment to Performance Trust’s foundational pillar of education by either teaching at the firm’s premier balance sheet education program, Performance Trust University®, or authoring Disciplined Investor articles that are distributed to financial institution clients.

Brown has demonstrated his ability as a leader by developing and managing the Institutional Group, building it to over 35 people in six offices across the U.S.

Boylen, a general market municipal trader, has been recognized for his exceptional knowledge, talent, skill, and affinity for Performance Trust’s analytical framework.

“These exceptional individuals will continue to work with their clients and will take on more significant roles within the organization,” Berg said. “This is an exciting time for Performance Trust.”

About Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC

Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC is committed to helping financial institutions improve their long-term performance and deliver shareholder value. We teach them our Shape Management® methodology—the disciplined application of Total Return and Scenario Analysis—in order to help them better quantify and execute risk/reward decisions. By understanding the true nature of the risk/reward scenarios they are faced with, institutions will be able to make better decisions and generate wealth potential over time. For more information, go to www.ptcp.com.

CHICAGO, IL (January 23, 2017)–Western Independent Bankers (WIB), a premier trade association of more than 22,000 bankers and 140 community banks, announced today that Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC has become a Premier Solution Provider. WIB and Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC share a common goal of educating financial professionals about industry developments and sharing tools for making more informed investment decisions.

Performance Trust is committed to helping financial institutions improve their long-term performance. Working together will assist both institutions in expanding their reach and educating a greater number of professionals within the banking industry. Through this agreement, WIB will sponsor Performance Trust’s Principles of Performance™ program in Las Vegas, NV taking place February 7-9, 2017.

Principles of Performance™ is an immersive and eye-opening educational experience that teaches financial institutions a disciplined methodology for their fixed-income portfolio and balance sheet. From a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises, attendees will learn the pitfalls of conventional analytics, an objective approach to better quantify potential risk and reward of investments, and how this approach can be applied to the entire balance sheet. As they return to their institutions to apply their newfound knowledge, they have a more rational basis for their decisions rather than relying on conventional wisdom and intuition. They can go forth with confidence, knowing that they have the tools to make the best possible decisions for their institutions' performance.

Rich Berg, CEO of Performance Trust, stated, “We are excited to continue our relationship with WIB and the wonderful team within their organization. We hope to foster more opportunities for each group to continue educating industry professionals.” Select Performance Trust materials will be available to WIB members. Those members will also be given the opportunity to attend Performance Trust events that take place across the United States.

About Western Independent Bankers and WIB Service Corporation

Established in 1937, Western Independent Bankers (WIB) is the premier networking and educational organization for community banks in the West. WIB informs, educates and connects community banks with the resources and services to achieve the highest standards of personal and organizational performance. WIB Service Corporation was established in 1994 by the WIB Board of Directors as a wholly owned subsidiary of WIB. WIB provides a due diligence summary package on each of its Premier Solutions Providers to WIB Member Banks upon request. For more information, visit www.wib.org.

About Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC

Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC is committed to helping financial institutions improve their long-term performance and deliver shareholder value. We teach them our Shape Management® methodology—the disciplined application of Total Return and Scenario Analysis—in order to help them better quantify and execute risk/reward decisions. By understanding the true nature of the risk/reward scenarios they are faced with, institutions will be able to make better decisions and generate wealth over time. For more information, go to www.ptcp.com.

Diverse Background and Skillset Bring New Perspective to Senior Management Team

CHICAGO–November 12, 2015–Performance Trust announced today the hire of Eric Meier as Managing Director, Chief Financial Strategist, a new role that will include oversight of the company’s finance functions across all operations and business units. The addition comes as Performance Trust continues to expand its product offerings as well as office locations.

Meier will utilize his diverse background, which includes 25 years’ experience in senior finance, operations and strategic leadership positions, to efficiently manage Performance Trust’s continued expansion and effectively anticipate and address challenges associated with the firm’s rapid growth. The company, founded in 1994 above the Starbucks in Wheaton, Illinois and now headquartered in Chicago, has in recent years launched offices in Connecticut, Houston, New Orleans, Hawaii, and on the West Coast, and has increased in size from 100 employees to more than 200 in the past five years.

"Eric will wear many different hats," Performance Trust CEO Rich Berg said. “His depth and breadth of experience demonstrates that not only did we find a talented finance individual, but also someone who can connect all the dots. He’s had his hands in accounting, operations, financial technology, strategy, HR, marketing and project management, and in that sense, he’s a truly unique addition. We anticipate that his contribution will be invaluable.”

Meier has spent time in industries ranging from global capital markets and asset management to technology and financial advisory.

“The opportunities at Performance Trust – and across the company’s various business lines – are astounding,” Meier said. “It’s not your classic buttoned-down, day-to-day company but one with a forward-thinking methodology, a culture centered around education, and customer performance, and what stood out most to me is that while they’ve grown and re-worked the piping and the plumbing, the DNA hasn’t changed. There are – as there always have been – so many growth opportunities.”

Prior to joining Performance Trust, Meier previously held senior leadership positions as CFO and COO of Washington Wealth Management LLC, headquartered in San Diego, California. Before moving out west, Meier was Managing Director and COO of TransMarket Group LLC in Chicago, as well as Vice President of Strategy at the Chicago Board of Trade. He has a Master of Business Administration from The University of Chicago.

About The Performance Trust Companies

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA-regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to address specific investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and supporting client institutions as they invest through a total return methodology. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO – February 9, 2015 – Continuing to build upon the company’s recent momentum, Performance Trust this week announced the hire of Gary Penrose to head up the Investment Banking Group’s Mid-Atlantic operations. He was brought on February 2 as a managing director.

Penrose, who brings more than 30 years of community investment banking experience to Performance Trust, will provide existing and prospective clients with a wealth of knowledge in financial advisory services including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, strategic planning, fixed income, asset/liability management and more. His principal focus will be in Virginia and surrounding states, with an added focus in Michigan.

This hire marks the fourth significant Performance Trust expansion in the last three years, with new community bank-focused investment bankers expanding operations into the Southeast earlier this year, the Pacific Northwest and Midwest in 2014, and Texas in 2012.

Penrose said the company’s culture and wide-ranging expertise – particularly its focus on improving clients’ margins and bottom lines through its educational, fixed-income and asset/liability advisory business – drew him to Performance Trust. “I have a lot of community bank clients,” Penrose said, “and they’re not all going to do mergers, they’re not all going to raise capital, they’re not all going to need strategic planning services. But what they all could use help with, even the most profitable ones, is improving their profitability potential and bottom line.”

“Performance Trust is widely respected in the financial services industry, and because it’s a high-integrity company which aims to build trusting relationships with its clients, it’s a great fit for me and a perfect opportunity to better serve my clients while continuing to offer the trust and integrity they expect and deserve,” he said. “Performance Trust is very relationship-oriented – they’re always looking to do the right thing for their clients and put their needs first."

Penrose comes to Performance Trust from Davenport & Company, where since 2007 he managed the company’s Financial Institutions Group. Prior to his time with Davenport, he was head of Financial Institutions Investment Banking at Ryan Beck – now known as Stifel Nicolaus – and managing director of Scott & Stringfellow’s – now known as BB&T Capital Markets. He started his career at Bank of Virginia, where he was a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions/Planning Department.

Penrose received his MBA from the College of William & Mary and his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University. He is a frequent speaker to various banking groups, banking trade associations, and bank regulatory agencies across the country and former instructor for SNL Financial’s Fundamentals of Bank Valuation.

About The Performance Trust Companies

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

Pair will head up newly formed New Orleans office and bring synergy to nationwide operations

CHICAGO – January 29, 2015– Marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the company, Chicago-based Performance Trust Capital Partners today announced the hire of two experienced investment bankers for its newly founded New Orleans, Louisiana office. Jonathan W. Briggs was named managing director, and Jenny Day Austin joined as vice president.

Briggs and Austin will be responsible for expanding Performance Trust’s investment banking effort in the Southeast by providing community financial institutions with financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions, private capital raising, and other strategic planning/regulatory consulting. They also look forward to the opportunity to introduce their existing and prospective clients to the services Performance Trust offers on the fixed income and asset/liability management side.

The move comes at a time when Performance Trust is rapidly expanding. Along with the New Orleans office opening, the company launched a Houston branch in 2012 and brought on veteran investment banker Al Glowasky to lead a West Coast initiative last year.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to contribute to Performance Trust’s continued growth,” Briggs said. “Jenny and I bring to Performance Trust our strong relationships with community banks in the Southeast region and now we also will have access to the unique resources and product offerings of Performance Trust. Our goal will be to seamlessly integrate operations here with the company’s growing operations across the country.”

Austin said her decision to join Performance Trust stemmed from the fact that the company is truly devoted to fostering long-lasting relationships with the institutions it serves.

“I was instantly drawn to Performance Trust’s culture,” she said. “The firm is focused on the banking industry and it values intellectual curiosity and education not just for its employees but for its clients, too. I believe the company’s values of integrity, excellence, teamwork and results along with its disciplined analytical approach will allow us to add value for our clients.”

Along with Briggs and Austin, Performance Trust is seeking to fill an investment banking analyst position in its New Orleans office.

Boasting more than 30 years of combined professional experience, both Briggs and Austin come to Performance Trust from Chaffe and Associates, Inc., a specialized investment banking firm based in New Orleans. Briggs previously served as managing director and head of the financial institutions group, and Austin held the role of vice president of the same group.

Briggs joined Chaffe in 1997 as an investment banking analyst and was promoted multiple times with his last promotion to managing director and head of the financial institutions group occurring in 2009. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of New Orleans, where he currently serves as an adjunct professor of bank management. Briggs is a CFA® charterholder.

Austin joined Chaffe in 2010 as an associate and was promoted to vice president in 2011. Prior to that, she worked as an associate on the financial services investment banking team at Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, a human resources associate at American Capital, Ltd. and an analyst/senior analyst in investment banking for SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. Austin received a bachelor’s degree in international business from Auburn University and a master’s degree in international economics and finance from Brandeis University. Austin is a CFA® charterholder

About The Performance Trust Companies

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO – September 22, 2014– Performance Trust Capital Partners announced today that Andrew Yang has joined the company as a Director in its Investment Banking Group.

“I’m excited to be part of Performance Trust’s expanding investment banking presence in the dynamic market of depository institutions.” said Yang of his new position. “I joined the firm because of its entrepreneurial culture and its commitment to client education and analytics-based decision-making. I look forward to contributing to the leadership team and continuing to do what I’m most passionate about: providing exceptional M&A execution and helping clients attain their strategic goals.”

Yang has over seven years of investment banking experience, advising various depositories and other financial institutions on mergers and acquisitions, capital management and strategic planning. Prior to joining Performance Trust, Yang was a Vice President in the Financial Institutions Group of the Investment Banking Division at Credit Suisse, working in both New York City and Chicago.

“We consider Andy’s addition to the team critical as we expand our offices in Chicago and across the nation,” said Dan Bass, Managing Director for Investment Banking. His strong analytical and client relationship skills fit well with our firm’s mission and methodologies that have long differentiated Performance Trust in its other bank advisory businesses. I am confident that Andy’s knowledge and values will contribute greatly to the insights and services we provide our clients.”

Yang earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Engineering at Ohio State University and his MBA, with concentrations in Finance and Economics, from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

About Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

PORTLAND – January 9, 2014– Performance Trust Capital Partners announced today that Al Glowasky, who brings more than 30 years of investment banking experience, has joined the company as Managing Director in the West Coast region.

“I am thrilled to be part of Performance Trust’s expanding investment banking effort throughout the country,” said Glowasky. “Performance Trust’s dedication to educating and enabling clients to make thoughtful and sound financial performance decisions resonates very well with how I approach this business. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to expand Performance Trust’s footprint with western financial institutions.”

Leading strategic investment efforts, Glowasky will expand the company’s reach along the West Coast, offering high-level financial advisory services to institutions to help them make informed, effective decisions.

“Al’s investment banking experience is second to none in the Pacific Northwest, and we are lucky to have him on board,” said Performance Trust Managing Director Dan Bass. “As one of the most trusted advisors in the market, he has built long-lasting relationships with financial institutions across the board, and he will bring that commitment to Performance Trust.”

Glowasky comes to Performance Trust from Sandler O’Neill and Partners, L.P., an investment banking firm and broker-dealer, where he served as Managing Director in the Investment Banking Group. There, he worked with financial institutions on merger and acquisition assignments, capital raising and strategic planning. Prior to Sandler O’Neill, he worked at D.A. Davidson & Co. and Pacific Crest Securities. Glowasky began his investment banking career with Morgan Stanley in New York City.

“We are excited to expand our professional services to the West Coast, and Al’s enthusiasm will ensure we are poised for long-term success,” said Bass. “He has a disciplined, analytical approach in educating clients to make the best risk and reward decisions for their institutions.”

Glowasky holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

About The Performance Trust Companies

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO–October 1, 2013– Performance Trust Capital Partners and the Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) have established a partnership to broaden their shared goal of educating financial professionals about industry developments and sharing tools for making more informed investment decisions.

Performance Trust’s reputation for their fact-based, analytical approach to deciphering financial markets made them an ideal partner for the IBA.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to reach beyond our clients and help educate others in the industry on the greatest market challenges we face today,” said Performance Trust CEO Rich Berg. “We are excited to work with our colleagues at the IBA to help industry professionals navigate the market and make decisions with the intent of producing the greatest possible reward for the quantifiable risks they are already taking.”

Performance Trust’s weekly Market Update and select Market Minute™ videos, resources designed to provide insight into key industry topics, will now be available to IBA members. Additionally, experts from Performance Trust will speak at IBA lectures and forums and collaborate with the IBA to offer customized educational opportunities to IBA members.

“We are thrilled to begin this relationship with Performance Trust, which allows us to offer our members even greater opportunity and distinction,” said IBA president Linda Koch. “Given that the industry we work in can change so quickly, we look forward to having access to the insight and expertise of Performance Trust’s proven leaders.”

Partnering with the IBA supports Performance Trust’s mission of inspiring financial decision-makers to achieve greater results through a disciplined investment methodology and approach. Performance Trust is delighted to work with this highly respected association and its members.

About The Performance Trust Companies

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA-regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to address specific investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and supporting client institutions as they invest through a total return methodology. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

About The Illinois Bankers Association

The Illinois Bankers Association is a full-service trade association dedicated to creating a positive business climate that benefits the entire banking industry and the communities they serve. Founded in 1891, the IBA brings together state and national banks, savings banks, and savings and loan associations of all sizes in Illinois. Collectively, the IBA represents nearly 90 percent of the assets of the Illinois banking industry, which employs more than 100,000 men and women in over 5,000 offices across the state.

HOUSTON –December 14, 2012– Performance Trust Capital Partners announced today that Dan Bass, an investment banking expert with nearly three decades of experience in the financial services industry, has joined the company as Managing Director of its new Houston office.

Bass will be responsible for expanding the company’s reach in the investment banking arena, and will bring Performance Trust’s disciplined analytical approach to institutional investing to new geographic markets.

“We’re very excited to bring Dan on board,” said CEO Rich Berg. “As we grow our presence in Houston and throughout the South, Dan’s extensive industry knowledge and proven track record of completed deals make him the perfect point man to lead our foray into these new markets.”

Bass comes to Performance Trust from FBR Capital Markets, a full-service investment bank based in Arlington, Virginia, where he served as Managing Director since 2010. Prior to FBR, as Executive Vice President and Managing Director at Carson Medlin Investment Bankers, he consistently ranked among the top deal-makers in Texas.

“Performance Trust is unparalleled when it comes to helping their investors understand fixed-income securities,” Bass said. “What we’re doing now is bringing another service to our clients by leveraging our banking relationships to offer investment banking services.”

Bass earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas, Austin, and received a Master of Science in Information Management from Marymount University in Virginia. He holds a CFA designation, is an Accredited Senior Appraiser in Business Valuation by the American Society of Appraisers and is FINRA Series 7, 24, 79 and 63 registered. He has lectured at Southern Methodist University and has presented papers at several executive seminars and conferences on topics regarding financial institution acquisition.

About The Performance Trust Companies

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

Whitney Young to defend crown against top Chicago high school teams as students examine unemployment, federal debt and Dodd-Frank

CHICAGO –Students from eight top Chicago high school debate teams will take on the same economic policy questions this week as White House and congressional leaders.

In the third annual Performance Trust Public Debates on the U.S. Economy, participants from a broad cross-section of Chicago neighborhoods will examine national tax and spending plans and the threat of the impending “fiscal cliff.” The issue has commanded Washington’s attention in recent weeks as government leaders negotiate how to deal with both mounting federal debt and sluggish economic growth.

Students will also analyze the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 and its potential to do more harm than good.

“With the fiscal cliff approaching and federal debt increasing, uncertainty is hindering investment and growth. The debates serve as a great opportunity for high school students to learn about what government and business leaders are really up against” said Performance Trust CEO Richard Berg. “Past years have shown that when given time to study these policies and their implications, students can surprise us with the depth of their understanding and eloquence of their arguments.”

The debates, which are open to the public, will be held December 7 and 8 at Performance Trust, located at 500 W. Madison St. in Chicago.

This will be the third straight year Performance Trust has partnered with the Chicago Debate Commission and Chicago Public Schools to host this event. All participating schools are members of the 16-year-old and 71-school Chicago Debate League, the nation’s largest, best-studied and most competitive Urban Debate League. In addition to Performance Trust, the debate is co-sponsored by Attucks Asset Management, Stout Risius Ross, Inc., and McGladrey LLP.

Eight Chicago high schools will participate in this year’s debates, including last year’s first place winner, Whitney Young Magnet High School, ranked among the debate programs in the nation. The other participating schools include Northside College Prep, Morgan Park High School, Lane Technical High School, Daniel Hale Williams Prep School of Medicine, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Marshall Metropolitan High School, and George Westinghouse College Prep.

The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

The website, located at www.performancetrust.com, now features a comprehensive “Knowledge Center,” which offers institutional visitors access to a library of Performance Trust articles, up-to-date market facts, news, and commentaries. The site introduces a company video that provides insight into their goal of helping people make better decisions, as well as a glimpse into the Performance Trust culture. Additional features include an interactive timeline of the firm’s history, a gallery of all Performance Trust education-based videos and media appearances, and information about further educational opportunities.

The launch comes just months after the completion of a new in-house television studio, which offers broadcast newsrooms the opportunity to gain immediate access to expert financial analysts to discuss breaking news in the markets, investment and trading strategies, political developments and their financial impact, and related topics.

The studio is ready to go live and available for booking via fiber or satellite transmission. To arrange for video feeds, please contact Adam Mesirow at Res Publica Group, 312-755-3523, or am@respublicagroup.com.

“There is a tremendous value in investing in technology and communications that allow us to educate our customers and ensure they are up-to-date and informed about what is happening in the financial services world and how it might be impacting them,” CEO and co-founder Rich Berg said. “These new web features and the ability to have our leadership available to television stations and networks at a moment’s notice will enable us to further improve our lines of communications.”

About Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLCPerformance Trust Capital Partners, LLC is an SEC- registered investment advisor and a FINRA-regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO –March 15, 2012–Performance Trust Capital Partners announced today that Bart Smith has joined the company as Managing Director.

“Performance Trust represents a high-integrity platform from which to carry on my support for the industry by adding real value in areas that can help institutions achieve higher levels of success,” Smith said. “I am certain that my long-view observations of industry trends and best practices can directly assist community banks in better realizing their potential. I am energized by the opportunity to help the industry move into a more vibrant and profitable future.”

As Managing Director, Smith will provide community financial institutions with strategic financial advisory and investment banking services. He will also assist them in navigating government regulations and explain new and complex provisions in layman’s terms. Smith will also speak on behalf of Performance Trust at conferences and events nationwide, among other responsibilities.

Smith comes to Performance Trust after a 25-year career with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). As a senior manager, Smith worked to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation’s financial system, overseeing institutions’ risk management processes and executing FDIC’s insurance, consumer protection and receiver management responsibilities. During his tenure with the FDIC, he worked in supervisory capacities in Baltimore, MD and New York, NY, and most recently served as Territory Supervisor in Charlotte, NC.

“We’re thrilled to have him on board,” said Performance Trust CEO Richard Berg. “Bart brings a genuine commitment to disciplined investing. His wealth of experience will help financial decision-makers not only improve their overall performance potential but their understanding of the broader policy and regulatory aspects of investment management.”

Smith, a graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, SC, and of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking, lives in Charlotte, NC.

This announcement comes on the heels of last year’s appointment of Douglas Rothschild to President of Performance Trust Investment Advisors, LLC, a sister company of Performance Trust Capital Partners specializing in fixed-income, bank equity and real estate investment strategies.

About Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLCPerformance Trust Capital Partners, LLC is an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA-regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

The studio, coupled with a new website, will allow Performance Trust’s employees to more quickly and efficiently deliver important information to its customers about global and local financial issues. The studio overlooks a 5,000 square foot trading floor and offers broadcast newsrooms the opportunity to gain immediate access to expert financial analysts to discuss breaking news in the markets, investment and trading strategies, political developments and their financial impact, and related topics.

Performance Trust has become a nationally recognized name in the financial services world thanks in part to the regular and respected analysis and insights provided by its leaders. Chief Executive Officer Richard S. Berg, along with Peter Cook, Chief Investment Officer for Performance Trust Investment Advisors, and Brian Battle, Director of Trading at Performance Trust Capital Partners, are frequently called on to analyze market trends for broadcast outlets that include CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg Television and Sky News. They are also recurring contributors to financial news segments on WGN-TV, WBBM-AM, ABC-7 and CBS-2 in Chicago. They regularly provide market insights through features like “Market Minute” and other profiles on the company’s new website, www.performancetrust.com.

“There is a tremendous value in investing in technology and communications that allow us to ensure our customers are up-to-date and informed about what is happening in the financial services world and how it might be impacting them,” Berg said. “These new web features and the ability to have our leadership available to television stations and networks at a moment’s notice will enable us to further improve our lines of communications.”

The studio is ready to go live and available for booking via fiber or satellite transmission. To arrange for video feeds, please contact Adam Mesirow at Res Publica Group, 312-755-3523, or am@respublicagroup.com.

About Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLCPerformance Trust Capital Partners, LLC is an SEC- registered investment advisor and a FINRA-regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO –Decemeber 7, 2011– Nearly three years after passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, students from 12 Chicago high schools will debate its effectiveness and whether the federal government should invest additional stimulus to bolster the economy. In a tournament co-sponsored by Performance Trust Companies and Attucks Asset Management, LLC, participants will also argue whether the United States is now on an irreversible course of long-term economic decline.

“Today’s volatile economy has led us into uncharted territory,” said Performance Trust CEO Richard Berg. “Giving high school students the chance to debate the same issues that are confronting government and business leaders worldwide is real-time education. I look forward to hearing their perspectives.”

This marks the second straight year Performance Trust has partnered with the Chicago Debate Commission and Chicago Public Schools to host this event. Last year, debaters from Northside College Preparatory High School edged out a team from Lane Technical High School to win the tournament championship.

“This tournament showcases some terrific talent—young people stretching beyond the classroom to develop and contest ideas that affect us all,” said Attucks CEO Les Bond.

The 12 participating schools, from a broad cross-section of Chicago neighborhoods, are among the top debate programs in Chicago. All are members of the 15-year-old and 76-school Chicago Debate League, the nation’s leading Urban Debate League. The participating schools include Amundsen High School, Brooks College Prep, Jones College Prep, King College Prep, Lane Tech College Prep, Morgan Park High School, Northside College Prep, Phoenix Military Academy, Von Steuben Metro Science Center, Whitney Young Magnet High School, Daniel Hale Williams Prep School of Medicine and University of Chicago Woodlawn Charter High School.

Event Information

Preliminary Rounds: Friday, December 9, 201112-7pm

Final Rounds and Awards Ceremony: Saturday, December 10, 20118am-12pm

500 West Madison, 3rd Floor: Chicago, IL, 60661

About The Performance Trust CompaniesThe Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed in an effort to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

About Attucks Asset Management, LLCAttucks Asset Management, LLC is a MBE certified and registered investment advisor founded in Chicago in 2001. With $2 billion in assets under management, Attucks serves some of the largest pension plans in the United States, including the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund. The firm's senior professionals leverage their investment experience in consulting, risk management, portfolio structuring and client service to produce sound investment programs that meet both fiduciary and social goals. As a Manager of Asset Managers, Attucks offers institutional investors the opportunity to invest with pre-qualified emerging and minority and woman-owned managers. More than 90% of Attucks' assets under management have been placed for investment with minority and woman-owned portfolio managers.

CHICAGO—September 1, 2010—Jason Elder, currently a Partner, Board Member, and member of the Executive Team of Performance Trust Companies, is taking on the additional leadership role of Managing Director of Corporate Strategy, the company announced today.

In this newly created position that establishes corporate strategy as part of the company’s formal management structure, Elder will be responsible for working with Chief Executive Officer Richard Berg and the Executive Team to further develop strategy for the company’s capital markets and asset management units.

Elder has been with Performance Trust since its inception in 1994. He spearheaded the company’s move into team-based client development groups and has played a key role in educating clients and colleagues alike by establishing and leading classes and seminars. In the last few years, he has worked to create and institutionalize the process of strategic decision-making at Performance Trust, while collaborating with James Schrager, Ph.D, a leading professor of strategy at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and Performance Trust Advisory Board Member.

“Jason is committed to making sure that we apply a strategic discipline to every decision we make while maintaining all of the company’s best qualities such as the ability and agility to react quickly to market events,” said James H. Matson, President & COO, Performance Trust Companies. “We are at a point in our growth cycle where establishing an increased and more visible focus on business strategy will lead to increased business opportunities in the future,” he said.

Elder earned a BA from Kansas University and an MBA with a specialization in finance and statistics from the University of Chicago.

About The Performance Trust Companies The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and a FINRA regulated broker/dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed-income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—December 22, 2009—Jeffrey W. Smith, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and institutional sales and marketing executive, was named Managing Director of Business Development at Performance Trust Investment Advisors, LLC, a sister company of Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC, the companies announced today.

In this newly created position, Smith will develop new client relationships for Performance Trust Investment Advisors, whose asset management business has grown substantially since it was established two years ago. Specifically, Smith will be responsible for marketing strategies, sales management and client services.

Smith has deep experience developing and managing new business for a number of the nation’s best-known brands, including Fidelity Investments, UBS, State Street Bank and Chase.

Most recently, Smith managed his own asset management consulting firm, specializing in strategy, product and distribution. Previously, he worked for Pyramis Global Advisors, a unit of Fidelity Investments, as head of institutional distribution, and as Managing Director of UBS Global Asset Management. Smith is a member of the CFA Institute and Investment Analyst Society of Chicago, and has served on the Board of Trustees of Christian Heritage Academy.

The Performance Trust Companies focus on helping financial institutions become top performers through strategic financial advisory and investment banking services. Performance Trust Investment Advisors launched its asset management business in 2008 for institutional investors, Registered Investment Advisors, family offices and high net worth individuals. The group is led by Chief Investment Officer Peter Cook.

“Jeff brings an array of institutional, investment and operational experience to our asset management business, and we are pleased to have him join this unit,” said James H. Matson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Performance Trust Companies. “The relationships and skills Jeff has built over his successful career will allow him to hit the ground running and bring immediate value to our team.”

Smith earned a BA in economics from Wheaton College and an MBA with a specialization in finance from the University of Chicago.

About The Performance Trust Companies The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—December 8, 2009— In February of 2009, Performance Trust Investment Advisors, LLC developed and launched a website, www.MarktoMarketDebate.com, to help bring mark-to-market accounting issues to the forefront of public attention in the financial industry. Recently, it was selected from among 500 entries worldwide as the winner of the Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award.

The Summit International Awards recognize organizations that produce outstanding marketing, advertising, design and interactive communications. More than 50 countries are represented in the 16-year-old award competition.

Performance Trust turned to the Chicago-based interactive agency Marcel Media to build MarktoMarketDebate.com. Featuring an interactive video library, the website served as a virtual forum to discuss how mark-to-market and related accounting and bank regulations were hurting bank lending during the height of the global credit crunch.

In addition to the website, Marcel Media set up a branded YouTube channel that featured videos outlining the debate in layman's terms, as well as a LinkedIn group and a Twitter profile that delivered more than 500 followers including the Obama Presidential Campaign, the Financial Times and WSJ Online.

This initiative culminated in the testimony to Congress by Rich Berg, Chief Executive Officer of Performance Trust Investment Advisors, concerning the much-needed modifications to accounting regulations. Heightened public awareness of the issues led the Financial Accounting Standards Board to issue new guidance in April for fair value accounting rules.

"Many initially thought the mark-to-market issue was only an arcane accounting rule,” said Berg. “However, these rules were forcing banks to take excessive write-downs on their assets, destroying capital and the ability to lend. We are proud of the role our communications played in bringing these issues to light, resulting in Congressional hearings and the Financial Accounting Standards Board's decision to revise the rules to allow these assets to be accurately valued."

Following the success of the Mark-to-Market Debate website, Performance Trust Investment Advisors and Marcel Media have launched a second website, www.TheRatingsDebate.com, which discusses the issues with the current ratings system, while proposing potential solutions to those issues.

About The Performance Trust CompaniesThe Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—July 29, 2009—Bob Chrismer, a veteran human resources executive with significant experience in financial and professional services, has joined Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC as Chief Human Capital Officer, the company announced today. The Performance Trust Companies focus on helping financial institutions become top performers through strategic financial advisory and investment services.

Chrismer’s position at Performance Trust Capital Partners is newly created and takes effect immediately. Chrismer will be responsible for developing and managing the company’s human resources function including HR strategy, recruitment and talent development.

Prior to joining Performance Trust, Chrismer was a partner at Heidrick & Struggles, a leader in international executive search, where he specialized in disciplines of corporate strategy, human resources and consulting. Earlier in his career, he held senior recruiting and division level human resources roles at A.T. Kearney, a global management consulting firm, and First Chicago Corp., now part of JP Morgan Chase.

"We are excited about Bob Chrismer’s decision to join Performance Trust," said James H. Matson, the firm’s president and chief operating officer. “His extensive experience as a human resources professional will add tremendous value as we expand our capabilities and leverage the great success we’ve achieved over the past two years,” he said. “Bob will be a key member of our management team, helping us develop the exceptional talent required to exceed our growth and leadership goals for the future.”

Chrismer holds a MA in history from the University of Illinois and a BA in literature from Wheaton College.

About The Performance Trust CompaniesThe Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—April 6, 2009—Megan E. Geldman, marketing and PR coordinator at Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC, has been promoted to marketing manager, the company announced today.

In this newly created position, Geldman will be responsible for monitoring all marketing activities, including brand management, marketing communications, graphic design, event organization, the company’s web site and a newly launched blog and web site, www.marktomarketdebate.com, which focuses on the debate over the use of mark-to-market accounting in the banking industry.

The Performance Trust Companies focus on helping financial institutions become top performers through strategic financial advisory and investment services.

Prior to joining Performance Trust in 2007 as a marketing and PR coordinator, Geldman served as Director of Marketing and Advertising for Sereno Group Real Estate in Los Gatos, California. She also founded the in-house graphic design department for the Sereno Group agents.

"Meg has been a great asset as we have expanded our marketing operations during the past year, and we congratulate her on this much deserved promotion," said James H. Matson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Performance Trust Capital Partners.

Geldman has a Bachelor of Arts in studio art from the University of Puget Sound.

About The Performance Trust Companies The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—March 25, 2009—Rich Berg, Chief Executive Officer of Performance Trust Capital Partners, testified today in Washington D.C. as an expert witness before the US House of Representatives’ House Sub Committee on Banking. The testimony was delivered during a hearing titled “Exploring the Balance Between Increased Credit Availability and Prudent Lending Standards.”

Berg, one of 10 experts who testified, focused his comments on how the “one-size-fits-all” approach to rating securities was labeling securitized assets that were performing and delivering cash flows as toxic assets.

“As Congress and Treasury form plans for removing ‘toxic assets’ off the books of financial institutions through taxpayer assistance in order to get credit flowing again, we need to correctly define toxic assets,” Berg said.

Toxic assets are typically identified by the credit ratings provided by ratings organizations such as Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch. The rating scale ranges from AAA (Triple A), AA (Double A), A (Single A)—all the way down to D (default). BBB (Triple B) is generally considered the lowest rung for investment grade. Corporate bonds below investment grade are referred to as “junk” bonds and mortgage bonds and other securitized debt below investment grade are labeled “toxic.”

The current rating approach is primarily geared to evaluating fixed income instruments with a single obligor (loan), but not multiple obligors (a pool of loans). As a result, when the current letter-based credit rating is applied to a multi-obligor security, it effectively treats all obligors in default even if only a small percentage—such as 1 percent—of the pool is not performing. In addition, the current rating approach makes no accommodation for purchasing the security at a price that is below 100 cents on the dollar.

“The systemic effect is huge and significantly contributing to the downward spiral we are now witnessing,” he said. Credit ratings are hard-coded into current regulations, capital calculations, counterparty agreements, collateral agreements and investment policies, and a CCC rating may trigger cascading negative actions by accountants, regulators, counterparties and investors. “As an institution creeps closer to mandatory regulatory or policy minimums in these areas, it has less tolerance for any risk taking and will hoard more cash,” he said.

Berg recommended establishing a numerical scale rating system for multiple obligor securities because single and multiple obligor securities have very different risks.

“We strongly believe that a critical step to restoring credit markets is a revamp of the rating system for multiple obligor securities like mortgage-backed securities,” he said. “Unless a major change is made, it will be very difficult to clean up previously issued securities—those already downgraded, or those feared to be downgraded in the future – and the current discussion involving loan modifications will certainly cause a whole new round of downgrades and create more toxic assets,” he said.

About The Performance Trust Companies The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—March 10, 2009—Paul S. Kangas, a veteran sales manager and executive in the fixed income capital markets industry, has joined Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC as Managing Director of Sales, the company announced today.

Kangas will be in a senior leadership role at the company, responsible for expanding the company’s relationships with its banking clients, growing the fixed-income business and developing the sales team. The Performance Trust Companies focus on helping financial institutions become top performers through strategic financial advisory and investment services.

Previously, Kangas was a Managing Director and Sales Manager with BMO Capital Markets GKST, Inc., and Senior Vice President and Sales Manager for Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson before the firm was acquired by BMO in 2008.

“With more than 20 years of experience in debt securities, Paul is a proven leader in our industry,” said James H. Matson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Performance Trust Capital Partners. “Paul is joining us to help lead a new growth phase of our company,” he said.

Kangas earned a BBA in finance from Loyola University.

About The Performance Trust CompaniesThe Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—February 9, 2009—Chicago-based Performance Trust Investment Advisors, LLC, a bank advisory firm, has created a virtual forum at a new web site—called marktomarketdebate.com—to educate the public on how “fair value” standards, also known as mark-to-market, and related accounting and bank regulatory rules impact bank lending.

“Many people may not realize that the mark-to-market rules are having a disastrous effect in today’s distressed market because they are discouraging banks from taking on significant amounts of new lending, which is vital to economic recovery,” said Rich Berg, Chief Executive Officer of Performance Trust Investment Advisors. “We encourage all Americans to get educated, get involved and contact their Congressman or Congresswoman to make sure the regulatory bodies quickly take action to address these problems and get the economy moving again,” he said.

Under mark-to-market accounting rules, banks and insurance companies are required to report fixed income securities representing bundles of mortgages and consumer loans at today’s fire sale prices – even when these investments are currently performing by delivering cash flows to the investor. Related to this issue is the bank accounting rule called “Other Than Temporarily Impaired” (or OTTI). This rule requires that an entire pool of loans be considered “impaired” when only a small portion of the loans in the pool may not be performing as expected. In addition, there are bank regulations that are compounding these accounting-related problems.

“These rules require banks to take write-downs on their investments, destroying capital and the ability to lend,” noted Rich Berg. “Yet most of these fixed income securities being written down are not toxic subprime mortgages. Many are regular, performing loans made to Americans to purchase homes and autos and to finance college educations,” he said.

For more information and to hear the many voices on this subject, go to www.marktomarketdebate.com.

About The Performance Trust Companies The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

As Chief Investment Officer, Cook will develop and implement investment policies and procedures for the company’s expanded asset management business. Previously, Cook founded and was the Chief Investment Officer at Rochester Partners L.P., a highly ranked, value-oriented global hedge fund based in Hinsdale, Illinois. He also served as a hedge fund manager and head of global equity trading at Templeton Investments, and Vice President of interest rate swap and option trading at Union Bank of Switzerland. Cook serves on several leadership committees of the CFA Society of Chicago and recently chaired its Investment Exchange Forum.

“Peter has impressive track records in global investment and trading management in all major asset classes, and his extensive understanding of markets worldwide will create significant investment opportunities for our clients,” said James H. Matson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Performance Trust Capital Partners. “We are very pleased that Peter is joining our team in this newly created position,” he said.

Cook earned a BS in accountancy from the University of Illinois and an MBA with a specialization in international finance from the University of Chicago. In addition to being a CFA, Cook passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in 1982 while working in audit and tax functions at Deloitte and Touche.

About The Performance Trust Companies The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com.

CHICAGO—February 27, 2008—Stephen J. Sinclair was named Chief Information Officer of Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC, the company announced today.

Sinclair, who served as the company’s senior technology manager since 2003, steps into the CIO role, effective immediately. As head of information technology, Sinclair will be responsible for implementing the strategic direction of the firm’s technical initiatives. Performance Trust Capital Partners is a strategic, fixed income financial advisor to community banks throughout the country.

“Steve is a leading expert in providing technical solutions to the financial services industry, and we are pleased to promote him to be our CIO,” said James H. Matson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Performance Trust Capital Partners. “When it comes to managing trading data and proprietary investment analysis, Steve has proven to be a leader and innovator and he is a valued member of our team,” he said.

Sinclair has 14 years of software development, design and management experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Performance Trust Capital Partners, he founded Sintech Consulting Group and Sintech Software, LLC, which created custom web-based management systems for insurance companies. He also was a senior-level developer and manager for UBS’ foreign exchange technology division.

Sinclair has a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and investments from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. He has been quoted in a number of technical and business publications discussing web technologies, and he is a featured speaker at industry conferences.

About The Performance Trust Companies The Performance Trust Companies are an SEC-registered investment advisor and FINRA regulated broker\dealer, with proprietary investment methodologies and products designed to accomplish investment objectives. Based in Chicago, Performance Trust focuses on educating fixed income investment professionals and assisting client institutions to invest through total return. For more information, go to www.performancetrust.com

The research and other information provided herein has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell securities. Performance Trust Capital Partners ("Performance Trust") may make a market, or have a position in the securities discussed herein and may purchase or sell the same on a principal basis or as an agent. Investing involves risks, including the potential for principal loss. There is no guarantee that the strategies and services will be successful or outperform other strategies and services. Investing in bonds includes assumption of risks, including rising interest rates to decrease the value of bonds. Certain assumptions may have been made in connection with the analysis presented herein, and changes to the assumptions may have a material impact on the analysis or results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investments discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial position. Investors should independently evaluate each investment discussed in the context of their own objectives, risk profile and circumstances. With respect to the information contained herein that has been obtained from public sources, while Performance Trust believes this information to be reliable, Performance Trust does not guarantee its accuracy, adequacy or completeness and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Performance Trust is not a chartered bank or trust company, or depository institution. It is not authorized to accept deposits or trust accounts and is not licensed or regulated by any state or federal banking authority.